An amazing meal followed by an educational experience? Yes, please! I had no idea that Norway was…read moreso renowned for their salmon! Coming from Seattle, another salmon capital, we had to try it out.
We came for a late lunch around 2:00P and were seated immediately on the covered patio. The menu features hot and cold salmon dishes alongside a selection of sushi. Our waitress said that their most popular item is the Grilled Salmon, served with mashed potatoes and broccolini.
+ SALMON SUSHI PLATTER: This plate of 20 pieces contained salmon sashimi, salmon nigiri and spicy salmon maki. The fish was extremely fresh with a smooth buttery texture and a vibrant color. The sashimi was topped with black fish roe and spring onion while the nigiri had an ideal rice-to-fish ratio. I loved the salmon maki as well, although I wouldn't consider it spicy at all. Highly recommended!
+ SALMON TRILOGY: Cold-smoked, hot-smoked and cured salmon, each with an accompanying dipping sauce (I believe they were a creamy horseradish, mustard and crème fraîche). This was a fun dish to share, served with bread and butter that tasted great as-is or topped with the salmon.
+ GRILLED SALMON: Simply seasoned and flavored from the grill, this plate lets the natural quality of the salmon shine. The menu stated that it's cooked to medium unless otherwise requested, but to us, it seemed closer to medium-well. No complaints though; it was still moist and delicious! The sides of potatoes and broccolini were perfect pairings, making for a well-rounded meal.
+ SIDE OF BROCCOLINI: This isn't a menu item, but we requested six spears to add some extra greens and they only charged us a few dollars. The spears were crunchy and lightly salted.
After our meal, we went inside to their educational center. Our guide started us off with a short video about Norway's salmon farming and then led us into their "control room" where he shared deeper insights. He was so knowledgeable about the industry! Here are some facts we learned:
* Salmon get their pink color from the saltwater oceans since they eat krill, small crabs, etc. Freshwater salmon have white or pale flesh.
* Norwegians believe fresh salmon must be enjoyed within 21 days and they will not freeze nor can it. Any canned salmon that you see in the country is canned elsewhere and then shipped back.
* Norway exports salmon to 110 countries. They are raised in farms within the fjords!
This was one of my favorite meals in Norway for the spectacular food, fantastic service and new learnings!